Electric switch



June 25, 1929. R, RENKE 1,718,489

ELECTRIC SWITCH *oww @do a OQ o m m QJ NW XB NN N N L- 3k f a .o 0 0&0 O mm k @MPM June 25, 1929. R. RENKE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 25, 1929.

U Nl TED S T TES n, 1,118,4a9 :PATENT o-Frica.

ROBERT RENKE, OF BUFFALO, 'NEWYOB/K, YASSIGN'OR TO CHAMPION SWITCH-OOM- PANY, OF BUFFALO, YNEWT YORK, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application med January 22, 1926. Serial No. 83,046.

This inventionis a disconnecting switch of the double blade type, although-not limited to this particular use.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a switch of the character mentioned,

having'provision' for maintaining a maximum area of contact between the switch blades and the respective stationary Contact studs. A

further object is to provide an improved form lo of spring plate Vby which pressure may ybe applied to the outer surface o'ffthose portions of the blades, contiguous to the 'free ends thereof, which are positioned to contact with a coinplemental :fixed contact stud. A further object is to provide simple means for anchoring said spring plates in their operative position, Vand also to accurately adjust them to vary the vspring `pressure applied to the blades. A further object is'to provide a switch operating member Vmounted between the blades of the switch, and cooperating with portions of the springfplate-anchoring means to prevent relative lpivotal movement by power applied to said operating member. A

further object is to provide means for relatively adjusting vthe free ends of 'the'bladev to provide space for the operatin member, and locking said free ends in any esired adjusted position, to vprevent relative outward movement of the blade.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawin Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a switch constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a topplan view. Figure 3iis an enlarged cross-sectional vview on the ,line 3 3, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a similar view on the line 4-4, Figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged View illustrating 'one of the spring vpressure plates. Figure 6 is an enlarged side view illustrating a portion of the switch with parts broken awa Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, illustrating a slight modification.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a base plate which may be supported in any desired manner, and has secured thereto insulating members 11. Bolted to the insulating members are two stationary contacts 12 and 13 respectively, each provided with a clip or extension 14, by means of which the circuit wires (not shown) are connected.

The switch proper consists of two parallel blades 15 of suitable metal, pivotally connected tothe terminal 12,by means of a pivot bolt 16, said bolt being provided with a suitable head 17,'and a threaded end engaged by a nut 18.

Interposedbetween one blade 15 and the nut 18 respectively, are spring disks 19 of suitable material. These disks are cup-shaped in cross-section, and through the medium of pressure applied by the head'bolt 16 and the "nut 18,maintain a spring pressure against the contiguous portions ofthe blades 15, thereby insuring a maximum area of contact between the inner faces of the blades and the outer faces'of the contact 12.

The contact 13 is so positioned that when :engaged bythe blades 15, it will pass between them, contitguous to the free or unpivoted ends thereo The edges of these portions of the blades are beveled as indicated at 21, to

Aguide the blades into proper position over the vment of the blades. Such 'pins are lprovided with reduced portions, which project through complemental holesnin the sides of the blades, and are grooved as indicated at 23, to provide heads 24.

In order to maintain a maximum area of contact. between the inner faces of the blades 15 and the outer faces of the member 13, spring Vlates 25, one for each blade, are provided. ach spring plate is somewhat bowed as shown, and is provided at its forward end with spaced apart slots 26, shaped to Venter the grooved portions 23 of the abutment members, back of the heads 24. The other end of each plate is reduced in width, and said reduced ends are engaged by a bolt 27, having a head 28, and a threaded portion engaged by a nut 29. The convex portions of the plates are placed next to and in contact with the outer surfaces of the respective blades, and when engaged with the abutment pins 22, and the head and nut of the bolt 27, the yfront and rear ends of said plates are spaced from the blades, with the intermediate ortions pressing against the blades. When it is desired ot vary the pressure of the blades upon the contact 13, the tension of the spring plates may be varied by adjustment of the nut 29.

In order to prevent the nut 29 from workvhead portion 33, so constructed that astlie screw travels inwardly the tapered portion .33 spreads the split ends of the bolt, which will prevent unscrewing of the uut. The nut 18 of the pivot bolt lGmay be lockedin a similar manner, as shown.

For the purpose of moving the switch blades when open or closed circuit positions are desired, an operating member is provided. Said operating member consists of a shank 35, extending between the abutment members 22, and engaged by a bolt 36 to hold it 4against longitudinal movement relative to the blades. The bolt 36 and the abutment members 22 cooperate to prevent relative pivotal movement of the shank with respect to the blades. Said operating member is provided with the usual ring 37, to be engaged by a manually handled hook, in a manner Well understood in the art.' The operating meniber is normally of approximately the same width the contact stud 13, and in order 4to prevent loosening of the parts as well as to prevent relative outward'movement of i the blades, the nut 38 on the bolt 36 is locked Vin identically the same manner as the nut 29 of vthe bolt 27.- l

If desired a lock may be substituted for the operating member, in which event the shank i. 35 of said operating` member isv dispensed with. In lieu thereof an actuator 39 is used,

tliesame being provided with lugs 40which engage the head 41, of a latch bolt 42 posi- Ationed to engage a suitable notch in the stud 13. The bolt 3G in this instance serves as a pivot for the actuator 35, a guide for the latch bolt 42, and an abutment for the spring 43 of the latch.

In practice, the switch operates in much the 4 same general manner as any other well known type of disconnecting switch..

The advantages of the invention ywill be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art towhichit belongs. YF or instance, it will be i particularly noted that by means of the spring pressure plates 25,- a very strong spring` pressure is applied to the plates at the position y where they engage the contact stud 13, thereby insuring a maximum areayof contact between the blades and the stud, and avoiding ,the cutting away of the contacting surface to provide clearance for bolts, which is'ordinarily necessary when the usual type of spring disk is provided. Another important advantage is that the abutment members prevent the spring pressure from forcing the blades closer together than the normal width and thickness of the stud 13` and at the saine time they serve the additional function of providing anchoring means for the spring plates. The tension of the spring plates may Jbe easily and nicely regulated by means of the bolt 27 and the nut 29, which when once 'adjusted may be locked so that the parts will not readily come loose. It will also be noted that simple means are provided for obtaining the maximum spring pressure at the pivotal mounting of the blades, and an etlicient means by which any adjusted spring pressure ma? be obtained. B f mountino' the switch operating member between the ends of the blades, and preventing relative outward movement of said blades, an efficient means is provided for operating the switch. In additionthereto looseness and vibration of the parts is prevented, without interfering withv the relative spacing between the blades.

Having thus explained the natuie of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing the same, although without V.attempting to set forth all of the forms iii which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is 1. A switch ofthe character described coinprising a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said Contact, a second normally lixed contact positionedrto extend between said blades, spring plates supported by said blades and beaiing against the outer faces thereof contiguous v-to the surfaceswhich engage said second contact, and tension varying means engaging said spring'plates at one end only,

so as to uniformly vary their spring tension.

2. A switch of the 'character described comprising a normally lixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one endv to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, nonadjustable anchoring means carried by said blades, spring plates each Vengaged at one end by said anchoring means, said plates bearing against the outer surfaces of the'blades, contiguousto those surfaces llwhichengage the second contact, and means for engaging the other ends of said plates for varying the spring tension thereof so that the spring tension applied to the blades may `beuniformly varied by adjustments of said plates at one end o'iily.

3. A switch of the chaacter described comprising a .normally lixedcontact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed Contact positioned to extend between said blades, spaced apart headed ancliorpins carried by said bladesV and having' non-adjustable headed portions extending beyond the llO outer surfaces of both blades, spring plates each having one end in engagement with the headed portions of said anchor pins and bearing against the outer faces of the blades contiguous to those surfaces which engage said second contact, and means engaging the other ends of said plates for varying the spring tension thereof so that the spring tension applied to the blades may be uniformly varied by adjustments of said plates at one end only.

4. A switch of the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, apair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, abutment members interposed between the blades and having non-adjustable headed reduced portions extending through said blades, spring plates bearing against the outer faces of said blades and each having one end engaging contiguous headed portions of said abutment members, and means engaging the other ends of said plates to vary their spring tension, so that the spring tension applied to the blades may be uniformly varied by adjustments of said plates at one end only.

5. A switch of the character described comprising a. normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said Contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, anchor pins carried by said blades and having outwardly projecting portions provided with grooves therein, spring plates each having one end provided with slotted portions engaging the grooves of the anchor pins, and tension controlling means engaging the other ends of the respective spring plates to retain them in position, said plates bearing against the outer faces of said blades.

6. A switch of the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, curved plates 'having their convex surfaces in engagement with the outer faces of the respective switch blades and their ends spaced from said blades, and means for adjustably retaining said plates in position.

7. A switch of the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to ext-end between said blades, curved plates having their convex surfaces engaged with the outer faces of the respective switch blades and their ends spaced from said blades, anchor means engaging one end of each blade, and tensioning means engaging the other ends of the respective plates.

8. A switch of the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to sai-d contact, a second normally fixed confaces in contact with the outer faces of the respective switch blades and their ends spaced from said blades, each curved plate having slots engaging the respective headed pins, and means engaging the other ends of the respective plates to vary the spring tension thereon.

9. A switch of the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, spring plates engaging the outer surfaces of the respective blades, said plates being wider at one end than at the other, non-adjustable anchoring means carried by the blades for engaging the wider ends of said spring plates, and tensioning means engaging the narrow ends of said plates.

l0. A switch of the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, curved spring plates each anchored at one end to a blade and having a convex porv tion bearing against the out-er faces of the said blade, a headed bolt passing through the blades and engaging the other ends of the respective spring plates, and a nut on said bolt cooperating with the head thereof to vary the spring tension on said plates.

11. A switch of the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, curved spring plates each supported at one end by the respective blades and each having'a convex portion bearing against the outer faces of a blade contiguous to the surface which engage said second contact, a headed bolt engaging said spring plates at their other ends, a nut on said bolt to vary the spring tension of said plates, and means for locking said nut in any adjusted position.

12. A switch of the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said Contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, abutment members interposed between the blades and having non-adjustable portions extending through said blades, spring plates bearing against the outer faces of said blades and each having one end anchored to the contiguous extended portions of said abutment members, means engaging said plates at their other ends to adjust their spring tension, so that the spring tension applied to the blades may be uniformly varied by adjustments or said plates at one end only and means cooperating with said tension adjusting means to normally prevent variation of any adjusted tension.

13. A switch ot the character described comprising` a normally fixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said Contact, a second normally ixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, anchor pins carried by said blades and having outwardly projecting portions provi ded with grooves therein, spring plates having slotted portions at one end engaging the grooves of the anchor pins, means adjustably engaging the other ends oit the respective spring plates to retain them in position and 'to control the tension thereon, said plates bearing against the outer faces ot said blades, and means normally j n'eventing adjustment oi said retaining means.

14. A switch of the charicter described comprising a normally tixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, curved plates h avin g their convex surfaces in engagement with the outer faces ot' the respective switch blades, tension adjusting means for retaining said plates in posi* tion, and means tor normally preventing adjustment ot said tensioning means.

15. A switch of the character described comprising a normally lixed contact, a pair of switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally fixed contact positioned to extend between said Vblades means for a a l fino a s )rinotension on the outer faces ot the blades contiguous to the surfaces which engage the second contact, abutment pins having shoulders for limiting relative inward move-ment of the blades, a switch operating member having a rigidly connected tongue extending between said abutment pins, and means cooperating with my hand.

said pin for preventing relative rotative movement ot said operating member and said blades. v

j 16. A switch ot the character described comprising a normally fixed contact, a pair ol switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second normally ixed contact positioned to extend between said blades, means tor applying a spring tension on the outer faces of the blades contiguous to the surfaces which engage the second contact, abutment pins having shoulders for limiti ng relative inward movement ot the blades, a switch operating member having a rigidly connected tongue extending between said abutment pins, and means cooperating with sz 'd pin `for preventing relative rotative moven'lent ot' said operating member and said blades, said last mentioned means also operating to restrain outward relative movement ot the blades at all times.

17. A switch ot the character described comprising a normally iixed contact, a pair ot switch blades pivotally connected at one end to said contact, a second lnormally lixed Contact positioned to extend between said blades, means for applying a spring tension on the outer faces of the blades contiguous to the surfaces which engage the second contact, abutment pins having shoulders for limiting relative inward movement of the blades, a switch operating member having a rigidly connected tongue extending between said abutment pins, a headed bolt passed through said blades and cooperating with said pins for preventing relative rotative movement of said operating member and said blades, a nut on said bolt cooperating with the head of the bolt to restrain relative outward movement of the blades at all times, and means Vfor. normally preventing movement of said nut.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set noBnnTRENKn 

